Region: Spain
Climbing effort: 861 cep
Elevation meters: 1062
Steepest kilometer: 11.5%
Steepest 250 m: 14%
Foot: 760 m Top: 1802 m
Mean slope: 6.8%
Length: 15.3 km
From: Cortijos Nuevos
Road conditions (2022): moderate
Other race bikers: 5-10 per hour
Motor vehicles: <10 per hour
Scenery and road:
(3/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: no
PHOTOS    
Download gpx
The climb from Cortijos Nuevos to El Yelmo is probably the hardest in the mountain ranges of the Sierras de Alcaraz, de Cazorla and de Segura. The climax of the ride are the final 2.3 kilometers, the hardest of the entire ascent with an average gradient of 10.4%. Here you get above the forest so great views arise, in all directions because the Yelmo rises far above the other mountains in the area. The last kilometer before the summit is the most fun thanks to some very steep passages, including a 250 meter section of 14%, and to even more views, which are particularly evident on the descent. The climb begins in Cortijos Nuevos. The first 2.5 kilometers are easy (maximum 4%) but from El Ojuelo on the ride becomes harder. There are still 10 kilometers left until the final section, already described, begins. Of these, the first half is steeper (average 8.3%) than the second half (average 6.3%). Just over a kilometer past El Ojuelo the road enters into the forest so views are scarce until reaching the steep final section. After El Robledo (after 3.5 kilometers of cycling) the road becomes narrow. The quality of the asphalt is moderate and gets even worse after the junction 4 kilometers before the end. There is virtually no traffic.